Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Thank goodness

Thank goodness for CAPS and the PAT. Thank goodness for a document, i.e. CAPS, which spells out exactly which
must be taught in each grade and for the PAT which revises so many aspects of
the practical work.

I was called in in the middle of the 1st term to
teach a grade 12 class at an unnamed school. Every practical lesson, e.g. mail
merge (Word), working with dates and times (Excel) and calculations in queries
and reports (Access) has brought to my attention that basics are missing. (These topics were taught in the first term as
they are suggested in the grade 12 textbook I am using.)

I am now working on
phase 1 of the PAT. I am aware that it should already have been done but …
Today I am so excited. The learners were expected to but could not, but they learned

how to insert a section page break

the difference between portrait and
landscape orientation

how to convert text to a table

how to insert a column to
an existing table

how to insert a row to an existing table

change case

the difference between a heading and a sub heading

In the past this
class did not have a textbook. The teacher used and did what she wished, I
think. In future, with CAPS, it will be clearly defined what should be taught,
per grade and per term so a teacher can be held responsible for work not taught in a
particular grade.

Thank goodness for CAPS. Thank goodness for the PAT as it
gives one an opportunity for doing revision. Thank goodness for a Department of
Education for supplying approved CAPS textbooks to schools.